PURPOSE: to compare the efficacy of cervical auscultation during the clinical evaluation with the confirmation of aspiration in the videofluoroscopy of deglutition in oropharyngeal dysphagic children with tetraparetic cerebral palsy. METHODS: retrospective study with analysis of 101 notes of children, between 1 and 12-year old, enrolled in one institution, with the diagnosis of cerebral palsy spastic quadriplegia and referred and evaluated by interdisciplinary team. Clinical history, clinical evaluation of feeding with cervical auscultation and videofluoroscopy of deglutition were performed. RESULTS: the statistical results showed significance between positive cervical auscultation and laryngeal penetration or aspiration during the videofluoroscopy of deglutition and a negative cervical auscultation is correlated to non penetration/aspiration. CONCLUSION: cervical auscultation can be used as an inference to risk of aspiration, therefore a sign to early intervention in this population. Furthermore, it is a non-invasive method.
Deglutition Disorders; Cerebral Palsy; Fluoroscopy; Pneumonia; Aspiration
